Political activist and writer Sekou Nkrumah believes the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strayed from its founding principles.

The son of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah believes that while the party was founded on the principles of probity, accountability, and social justice, it has drifted away from these ideals over time.

In an exclusive interview with Dr. Ren on Rainbow Radio 92.4FM, Mr. Nkrumah stated that some people joined the NDC because of the party's anti-corruption ideology.

He stated that the primary purpose of the NDC's ideals was to enforce probity and accountability, as frequently stressed by the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, and to exorcise the cancerous spirit of corruption from the country.

However, he argued, the essential roots that led to the party's foundation have vanished.

He said that although the NDC was previously seen as "buga buga," it endeared itself as a party of choice for many people due to its social justice principle.

He said it was not surprising that numerous people who left the CPP aligned with the NDC because they supported the party's beliefs in social justice and accountability.

Citing the late John Evans Atta Mills as an example, he stated that one of the primary reasons some people criticize the late John Evans Atta Mills is that he failed the probity and accountability criteria, which the party believed in.

He added that there were apparent corruption and scandals under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, but the late Mills failed to address these cases and those documented during his tenure.

Sekou Nkrumah maintained that his call for the fight against corruption was not the one experienced under the previous administration when those accused were maimed or killed.

"But we had gotten to the point where the rule of law was paramount, and so it was important for him to have initiated moves to use the law courts in dealing with all cases of corruption. He, however, failed to do that, and that was the reason some people always criticized his style of leadership."

He claimed that the late Mills was not firm in the fight against corruption and let alleged corruption cases documented under the previous administration drift away with the wind.

"The late Mills was not really firm or made conscious efforts to comprehend the NDC's principles," he said.

He went on to say that the NDC has abandoned its origins of social justice, probity, and accountability, which has harmed the party over the years.

Sekou Nkrumah added that former President John Dramani Mahama has also lost touch with the ideologies of the NDC.

Speaking on Mahama, he said the former president, who wants to return as president and could likely win, was also not firm on dealing with corruption, which he attributed to a leadership problem.

He emphasized that the fight against corruption should not be limited to the NDC or NPP since it is a leadership issue in the sense that we require leaders, regardless of party affiliation, to be firm, determined, and prepared to deal with the cancer of corruption.

TWI NEWS